Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Organic

Garden Marker Ideas For Next Year, Another Project from Windfall Ecology Centre

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:53:30 +0000

I almost forgot to share just another meaningful project by the Windfall Ecology Centre. Last month on October 1st we ventured out to the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area. While hovering around the Windfall Ecology Centre, former historic Sheppard’s House, and the picnic area we found few garden patches.

Windfall Ecology Centre, Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area

I didn’t know at that time, but this is another project by the Windfall Ecology Centre – the community garden. The emphasis is on ‘it doesn’t take a lot to grow fruits and vegetables in your own garden‘. A project that encourages gardening at home, may be in the pots or at the community gardens that are starting to be popular around Aurora.

It also remind me how few years ago I used to grow plum tomatoes in my front yard instead of flowers.

Radish Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

Carrot Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

It is interesting to me that something that used to be a way of life is now encouraged because it rarely exists. Garden was always part of my life and it is kind of sad that all this land around here in Aurora will be eventually developed. Seeing a farm in Aurora – it will be a thing of the past. But I am stretching here, we are talking garden only.

Well, on the happy note, we found something interesting. I had Matthew with me and we had fun reading all the stone markers for the vegetables and fruits. What a good idea for marking your plants in the garden, and reusable one too. On the another note, I didn’t know that cantaloupes were grown here in Ontario. For some reason I always thought that cantaloupe was a tropical fruit.

So I did some research …

The cantaloupe is a fruit and is related to watermelon, honeydew, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. Some write that cantaloupe is a gourd. When choosing right cantaloupe at the supermarket I was using the same method as for watermelon – knock knock and listened for the hollow sound.

Apparently, when choosing a cantaloupe you must use your nose and not your knuckles. Smell for sweet smell, but I an not sure if I am in favor of that method, especially during flu/cold season.

Cantaloupe Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

We also found a bear in the garden. Not real one, but there was a marker for him just in case.

Bear Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

It was first of October and some plants were still blooming on that day. We spotted blooming peas flower and sunflowers.

It is November now and Sheppard’s Bush now looks nothing like before. Our last visit was at night – the Hunted Forest event. Even at night one could see leaves on the ground and some still hanging and beaming bright yellows.

Time really moves forward. We have had few changes in town – the Petch Log house is being reconstructed and the condominium in front of Hollandview Retirement Community on the John West Way is really moving along, but more about that in the posts to come.

Peas, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

Happy Thanksgiving, Blogging Slow September But Successful Harvest

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:36:48 +0000

My September blogging was slow and I will tell you why. I have two valid excuses, my corporate taxes were due (I hate penalties) and I spent many days preserving vegetables.

Cooking variety of tomato sauces the most, freezing peppers and peeling lots of garlic. I am very lucky and very thankful at the same time for the beautiful vegetables and fruit I received from my mother-in-law and my parents.

Red and Green Peppers

Being married to Italian family you just ought to have tomato sauce, and I do now. If I had my stand alone freezer on the first floor it would probably go through the floor – heavy, heavy. Few years ago I phase out freezing cooked food in plastic containers or bags. It is all in Mason jars now.

Being Ukrainian – we are potato people, plenty this year too.

Cooking

As always lots of garlic from both sides of family. I simply peel it and keep in the fridge in the jars. It stays for a long time – until next summer.

Mason Wide Mouth Lids

Mason Wide Mouth Glass Jars

Oh and I forgot to mention vegetables and fruit I don’t freeze, we just enjoy them fresh – green beans, egg plants, parsley, basil, black barries and raspberries.

Egg Plants

Over the years I tried to grow vegetables in pots – on the backyard and front yard. I was successful many times. Mainly tomatoes, beans, basil and parsley.

Plum Italian Tomato

One year I planted lot of tomatoes and beans in front of the house. It was really successful year. I still remember people stopping by and asking ‘Are these tomatoes in front of your house?’.

The Price Of Garlic, Gas Related?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:09:02 +0000

We all experienced hard to swallow price surge at the gas pumps last week. According to news sources the average high was 1.39 cents/L. I was relieved to see almost 10 cents drop at the gas stations the other day, but not relieved and feel the anger because we couldn’t take adventage of this lower price that day – our gas tank was full.

Petro Canada Gas Station, Yonge Street & Aurora Heights Drive

Well I am having hard to swallow another price increase – the price of the local garlic. Garlic is a very popular herb, yet I never seen it to be an item on sale.

Garlic

Few weeks ago I visited our local supermarkets in Aurora, and it amazed me to see how much difference there was in price for the garlic from China versus harvested here in Canada, classified as organic. The choice is mine, I can buy 1 kg of garlic from China for $4.99/kg or buy 250 grams of garlic from Canada for $4.99 which translates to $19.96/kg. Or wait for my parents and mother-in-law to give me some later in the season, or Aurora Farmers Market may have some at better prices.

Never mind in the store, the garlic from Canada didn’t look good either – the shoots were coming out.

Sometimes I wonder why do we have to pay more for the organic? Personally I think it is over-rated. And I think we are paying for the certification. How useful is certification I don’t know, but wouldn’t it be better that everything home grown was organic regardless of certification.

And to answer my title question above, no, definitely not gas related.